Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Awakening

About an hour later, the carriage wound its way through the streets and alleys into Mianhe Hutong. Still several feet away from the plaque on the gate of the mansion, gleaming so brilliantly in the bright sun that one dared not look directly at it, he stopped the carriage, straightened his clothes, and, bowing slightly, hurried to the gate.

He didn't ascend the steps, but simply stood at the foot, bowing, and said, "I have recently made a rare item, and I'm here to present it to you. I'm so excited I've arrived early, and I didn't dare disturb you. I'll wait in the carriage a little way off, and I'll let the steward know when he's free."

After saying this, he bowed solemnly to the doorman, and still maintaining a humble attitude, he stepped back a few steps before turning back to the carriage, and deliberately opened the door wide to show his openness.

Although the doorman had no personal relationship with him, he was deeply impressed by him. When one's shamelessness reaches a certain level, it is no longer a shortcoming but a skill.

Therefore, they acquiesced to his offensive behavior of guarding the mansion.

At the beginning of the Si hour, Butler Guo emerged from the mansion and waved to him from a distance, standing on the steps. Zhao Changping immediately rushed forward, clutching the treasure chest, his face beaming with joy.

Butler Guo led him to the side hall in the front yard. With a wave of his hand, two servants in blue came in with food boxes and set the meal on the table.

"The guards said Zhao Dongjia arrived at the end of the day, so he probably hasn't had breakfast yet. It's just some homely food, so please don't be offended."

Zhao Changping had come to the mansion many times to present gifts, and although he had never been given a meal like today before, he was still flattered. He quickly stood up from his chair and expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

Even though he is one of the most influential figures in the business world today, he now feels as awkward as a newcomer.

Regardless of what he was thinking, Butler Guo maintained a polite yet distant smile, his gaze fixed on the wooden box he held tightly in his arms. Even if one was familiar with the owner, inspection was still essential before presenting anything to the master.

Seeing this, Zhao Changping hurriedly placed the box on the table, opened the lock, opened the lid, and carefully uncovered the white silk covering it.

He took a deep breath, turned his head and whispered to the butler, whose eyes were fixed on the box, "Butler Guo, please look. This is a treasure that the craftsman and I have repeatedly adjusted the formula and fired at the beginning of the morning."

His voice was gentle, and he deliberately turned his head away from the object, as if any loud noise would disturb the lotus. "Butler Guo is knowledgeable. Would you mind showing this to your honorable guest?"

As the head steward of the mansion, Steward Guo had handled countless rare and precious treasures. Even the stewards of the treasure houses outside might not have had his broad vision. However, the lotus before him actually made him lose his mind for a moment.

After a moment, he sighed softly, but did not answer immediately. He only said in a loud voice: "Bring me some water to wash my hands."

After the servant brought the copper basin, he washed his hands carefully, put on snow-white silk gloves, and then carefully held the lotus in his hands.

After a heavy snowfall, there are usually sunny days, and today is no exception. Butler Guo stood in the hall, holding the lotus cup high, changing its angle and adjusting its height from time to time.

Zhao Changping held his breath and concentrated, his eyes and hands following his movements, his heart always tense, and in a short while, his forehead was covered with cold sweat.

Just when he was almost out of breath, he finally saw Butler Guo gently put the treasure back into the box and nodded slightly. Fang breathed a sigh of relief and raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat off his face.

"Have your meal here while I report to the Madam."

Butler Guo told him to put the wooden box away and then left.

Zhao Changping finally felt relieved. He carefully checked the contents and closed the box carefully before sitting down and picking up his chopsticks. But the meaningful glance Butler Guo gave him before he left kept lingering in his mind, and he had a vague feeling that he might actually meet an important person this time.

The thought of this suddenly increased his appetite, and he devoured the several dishes like whirlwind. After wiping his face, he smiled and greeted the servants who came in to clean up, then began to pace nervously around the hall.

---

Lan Nongnong woke at noon. Although her mind was clear, her body felt heavy and difficult to move. She didn't want to stay in bed all day, and now she could face the scars all over her body calmly. She asked Biyu to massage her muscles and bones, and only when the soreness subsided did she get up and wash.

After breakfast, she strolled around the room for a moment, deciding she had enough energy. Then, she asked Biyu to explain some etiquette and protocol. As she was leaning back on the couch, sketching something, she heard the housekeeper request an audience. She put down her pen and asked, "What's the matter?"

While standing up and straightening his clothes.

"Madam, Steward Guo said he didn't want to disturb your peace. It's just that the owner of Minglifang has just made a rare piece of glassware and he thought you would like it, so he asked to see you."

Seeing that she seemed puzzled, Biyu added softly, "He is the owner of the workshop that made all of Madam's dolls into glass pieces."

Lan Nongnong was putting on her cloak and walking out slowly. When she heard this, she suddenly realized, "It's him."

When Mingli was promoting it, she was suffering from the worst cold and was trapped at home all day, feeling depressed and not paying much attention to it.

It wasn't until a year ago that her little trinkets began to be made into glass pieces and sent to her. Not only glass, but also wood carvings, porcelain sculptures, and jade pieces were copied and presented to her. Now, her Wulan Courtyard is filled with two treasure chests.

To be fair, with the purity of current colored glass, dolls made from it are far inferior to the smoothness of wood carvings and the translucence of jade. However, Lan Nongnong was deeply impressed by this man, all because of his indomitable character, which grew stronger with each setback.

The finished products he initially sent her were of a muddy color and crude appearance, and she had never seen them before. It was only when she was strolling in the garden one day that she was attracted by a flash of colorful light and discovered that these dolls made of various materials were all created by him.

After that, he often came to offer his works, and each time the finished product was a little better than the previous one. So even though she had never met him, Lan Nongnong was already impressed by him.

"Then please wait in the hall of Mr. Zhao. I'm also curious about what rare treasure he cooked this time that deserved such praise from Butler Guo."

The servants were naturally delighted that she was in such a good mood. A little maid responded crisply and hurried off to pass on the message. Biyu, along with Qingluo and the other maids, enthusiastically helped her change her clothes and put on her makeup.

The mansion was deep and extensive, and it took nearly two-quarters of an hour just to walk from the backyard to the front. Lan Nongnong was still weak, and it was inconvenient for her to travel far, nor was it convenient for her to keep others waiting. Fortunately, her attendants were all clever and had prepared the sedan chair without waiting for instructions.

The sedan chair was carried by the palace guards, all of them were strong and sturdy, and they walked very fast. In just a quarter of an hour, they arrived at the front yard.

Although Lan Nongnong had never received guests here, she knew that it was unreasonable to place a screen that could divide the main hall into two parts in the main hall for receiving guests.

Her steps slowed down slightly, but because she walked slowly to begin with, no one noticed.

There were already guests in the hall, so she entered from the back hall, accompanied by her maids. As soon as she sat down, she saw through the screen a man of medium height standing in the hall, bowing deeply.

"I, Zhao Changping from Minglifang, greet the Madam. I wish you good health and happiness!"

Lan Nongnong subconsciously raised her hand to support him, but then she remembered that the other party couldn't see her, so she withdrew her hand and said in a slightly raised voice, "Mr. Zhao, there's no need to be so polite. Please take a seat."

Zhao Changping only heard a soft voice and did not dare to think deeply. He hurriedly bent down again and stood up, but still kept his head down and did not sit down. Without waiting for the head to ask, he took the initiative to pick up the opened box and leaned forward to hand it over.

"Thank you, Madam, for not abandoning me. I am willing to take a look at this. I have just made a rare piece with the craftsmen in the workshop, and I am here to present it to you. If you are lucky enough to give it a name, it will be my great honor!"

Lan Nongnong understood the key point in his words and said solemnly, "Mr. Zhao's words are serious. There is no need to offer them as an offering. You can just buy them according to the old rules. Please sit down and have some tea first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Butler Guo stepped forward and took the wooden box in person, turned to Yu Qingluo behind the screen, and then silently returned to his original place.

Zhao Changping, still standing in the hall, said with a smile, "Madam, you're joking. This is your own business, so why would you buy it? I only hope that the things produced in the workshop can catch your eye. That would be a great blessing for me and the other craftsmen..."

At this moment, Biyu had stepped forward and gently opened the snow silk in the box. When she saw the contents clearly, she couldn't help but gasp, forcing herself to look away and quietly retreat to the side.

Lan Nongnong looked up and saw a pink and white gradient, crystal clear glass lotus lying quietly in it.

When Qingluo brought the wooden box closer, she saw that the flower bud seemed to contain a beam of starlight, which suddenly flowed and turned the four words "flowing brilliance" into a visible splendor.

Lan Nongnong ignored the subsequent conversation in the hall. Her entire mind was focused on the glass lotus, and she took it out in a daze. The cool touch from her fingertips silently confirmed that it was indeed made of glass.

She held her breath, her eyes meticulously tracing every inch, from the gouache-colored buds to the translucent white stems, each one pure and flawless. This ultimate beauty was enough to bring tears to one's eyes.

Lan Nongnong was indeed in tears. Tears like star chains fell on the glass lotus, sliding down without stopping.

Her fingertips gently caressed the flower bud. The advent of glass of this clarity had already broken through the shackles of technology. It was conceivable that the owner must have been immersed in it day and night, never slacking off for a single day.

Everyone is exploring and improving in their respective fields. But what have you been doing in the past two years?

She closed her eyes, but the tears flowed even faster.

If she had not traveled through time, she should have graduated from university this year and followed the stable track paved by her parents, pursuing graduate studies, staying in school, and obtaining professional titles... It was a clear and smooth road, with pavilions to rest in along the way, saving her from many hardships.

Why is it like this now, being swept away by the torrent of fate, struggling hard in the whirlpool, even breathing tremblingly?

She should just calmly manage her own life.

Yet, she was obsessed with a man, wasting her time on this ill-fated relationship. She imprisoned herself in a cage of unwillingness, mired in the mire of error without realizing it, and abandoned everything except love.

fortunately,

Fortunately, it’s not too late to wake up.

Her life was but a brief deviation from its course. As long as she straightened the rudder, she could still sail back to her own sunny path!

"lady!"

The two maids, who were originally delighted with her love for the glass lotus, were shocked to see her burst into tears. They immediately thought that the lotus might have been tampered with.

Biyu immediately knelt down and tried to take the Glazed Lotus away, while Qingluo also turned around abruptly and was about to call for someone to detain it.

If the master is injured, it is the servants' fault, and they are to blame even if they die. Moreover, they have been negligent so many times, and if the lady makes another mistake, they will be ashamed to live in this world.

"Guo Guan--"

"Wait."

Lan Nongnong raised her face. Tear marks were still visible, but her eyes were as clear and bright as if washed by a mountain spring. She looked at the two frightened people, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly: "I'm fine."

But how can it look like nothing happened?

The two maids exchanged glances, but ultimately obeyed. Biyu took out her handkerchief and tried to wipe her tears, but was gently pushed away. Seeing the lady wipe her face herself and her expression and aura normal, she finally calmed down a bit.

Lan Nongnong steadied her breath, took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, and said softly, "Move the screen away."

"this--"

Because of her unusual condition just now, the two maids hesitated and did not dare to persuade her. When they were thinking about how to dissuade her tactfully, they suddenly felt a gaze of coercion falling on them.

The two men stiffened slightly, and a look of unconscious fear flashed across their eyes in surprise. At this moment, the lady made them feel so scared that they couldn't even muster the courage to look up and look at her.

After about two breaths, the two men bowed gently, walked around to both sides of the screen, and called the servants to remove the screen.

Lan Nongnong stood up at the same time and looked at the anxious man in the hall. She was actually full of respect in her heart. She gently put the glass lotus back into the box and clapped her hands in praise.

"Master Zhao, this glass lotus is extremely beautiful. However, what you and the craftsmen in the workshop have achieved is far beyond the measure of the artifact itself. This object should be a weighing instrument, and you should all be honored!"

After she said this, people were so shocked that even her unusual behavior of crying was temporarily concealed.

Heavy weapon?

Only military equipment, salt and iron have always been worthy of this title. How can these collectibles be worthy of this title?

Everyone?

Only those who have founded a school and have many disciples are worthy of this reputation. How can this confused merchant and craftsman who has to work with sand and stones deserve such a high reputation?

Such an extraordinary evaluation shocked everyone in the room. Everyone looked at each other in confusion, but no one thought that the lady was shallow. They just suspected that she was deceived by the clever words.

When Butler Guo and the two maids Biqing, who had seen this thing with their own eyes, looked at the owner again, their eyes were filled with deep scrutiny.

This glass lotus is indeed a treasure, but jade carvings and porcelain sculptures that rival, or even surpass, its exquisiteness are not uncommon. Which of the fine jades from famous kilns across the world is not the pinnacle of craftsmanship?

In comparison, this glass lotus is at best a work of art. Furthermore, with the current market value of the glass, how could it possibly deserve the reputation of being a "masterpiece"?

Not only others thought so, but even Zhao Changping himself felt his scalp tingling when he heard the praise. He felt unworthy and even panicked, saying "I dare not".

He looked at Butler Guo for help, but he only saw a solemn and scrutinizing look in his eyes, which frightened him so much that he couldn't even say polite words.

Perhaps he has not yet realized what he and the craftsmen have created, but this does not affect Lan Nongnong's cheering and paying tribute to them in her heart.

Free of impurities and color, its purity far surpasses the current glassmaking process, which is still dominated by mixed colors and turbidity. This is a technological breakthrough that transcends time, giving glass products epoch-making significance.

In other words, as early as when he fired completely transparent glass, he had already led the glass craft of that era into a new era.

Just as Biyu said on the way here, the changes that Mingli has brought to people's lives in the past two years are far beyond what jade and porcelain can compare to.

The latter has its own artistic value, which is universally recognized. However, in terms of practical significance, the birth of new materials, the foundation of the technology tree, the advancement of civilization, the convenience of daily life, etc., it is completely different from previous types of crafts.

Compared with the real use of glass, decorative ornaments are just a small matter.

However, seeing him so bewildered, and seeing the indifference and skepticism in the others' expressions, Lan Nongnong felt a pang of apology. She picked up the glass lotus again and said softly, "Boss Zhao just asked me to name this thing. I'm so grateful for your appreciation, so I'll shamelessly name it Pure Lotus."

Seeing that she did not mention the words "important weapon master" again, Zhao Changping felt as if he had been pardoned. His back was already soaked with cold sweat and his forehead was also covered with sweat.

He quickly turned sideways with his sleeve half-covered, took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, then turned back with a surprised smile and complimented, "Madam, you are so knowledgeable and insightful. This name is just right! Jinglian is truly worthy of the name! I thank you for the name!"

Seeing that although he was smiling, his aura was unsteady and his whole body showed signs of restlessness, Lan Nongnong did not want to stay any longer, but simply asked if he could allow her to visit his workshop later. After hearing his repeated promises, she said "Excuse me", asked Butler Guo to treat her well, and then got up and left.

How could Zhao Changping stay any longer at this moment? After respectfully seeing his wife off, he gave a wry smile to the unpredictable housekeeper Guo, bowed, and said, "I still have some miscellaneous business to attend to in the neighborhood," and hurriedly took his leave.

He walked out of the mansion with his head bowed and got on the carriage in this posture. When the door closed, he suddenly looked up with a smiling face.

If the carriage had not gone far, he would almost hum a tune!

He straightened his sleeves and leaned against the carriage wall, leisurely like an old man, his lips repeating the words "important" and "great" silently. The more he savored them, the more his lips curled up uncontrollably. He wished he could carve these two comments into a gilded plaque and hang them in a prominent place at his house, workshop, or even his shop!

What did it matter what others thought? What mattered was that Zhao Changping and this workshop had truly caught the eye of Lady Ling! Even if the world disagreed, in Lady Ling's heart, they were worthy of this highest praise!

More importantly, from now on, Zhao Changping and Minglifang have truly secured this backing!

Although people had long believed that he had clung to the high position of the Shangshu Ling Mansion, he was shameless enough to send 60% of the workshop's profits to the mansion and put them in the name of his wife.

But what kind of family was the Shangshu Lingfu? In the eyes of the powerful, he was just an insignificant, fawning merchant.

How many properties do you and your wife own? If you don't show up regularly to your master's house, you could be swallowed up and harmed by your peers one day. Even if you cry to your wife, I'm afraid she won't even remember your name. That would be truly a cry for helplessness!

Everyone in the capital knew that Lord Linggong loved his wife dearly. To gain his wife's favor was to gain his attention.

From now on, Zhao Changping will rise to a high position in the world!

He was so overjoyed that he urged the driver to hurry back to the workshop. As soon as he entered, he ordered the sweeping and dusting to ensure it was spotless. He also summoned all the craftsmen and widely publicized the fact that the lady had personally given the work a good name and praised it as a "very important piece of work, a masterpiece of great caliber."

Amidst everyone's excited gazes, he solemnly announced that his wife would come to inspect in person soon!

"From today on, show your full potential!" he shouted, "I'll be at your service at any time, my lady!"

---

Lan Nongnong just learned a shocking piece of news from Biyu.

Over a year ago, Minglifang had indeed been under her name. Over the past year or so, the initial modest profits had swelled into a massive business that was raking in billions of dollars daily. Not to mention the increasing profits from her other businesses, it was no exaggeration to say that she was already sitting on a mountain of gold without even realizing it.

Lan Nongnong felt it was absurd. Life went on day by day, and she was sharp-eyed and sharp-eared, yet she was completely oblivious to these things, living her life like a blind person trapped in her own web.

The sedan stopped outside the bedroom. She walked slowly into the room and was about to go to the study, but suddenly she remembered something and turned around and sat down in the hall. She told Biyu,

"Please bring me the names of all the properties that are under my name, so that I can see them."

My Lord had long foretold this, hoping that Madam would gradually take over these businesses. Now that Madam has taken the initiative to mention it, it's a sign that she's willing to take the initiative, isn't it?

Upon hearing this, Biyu beamed. She exchanged a glance with Qingluo, told her to stay and wait on her. She summoned two maids and hurried to the rosewood cabinet in the study. She took the key, unlocked it, and pulled out three arm-length wooden boxes covered in red sandalwood and lacquered with gilt. After locking them again, she and the maids each carried a box and hurried back to report.

She opened the three boxes simultaneously, took out the account books one by one, and stacked them according to category within reach. Then, Biyu gathered her sleeves, stepped back two steps, and said respectfully, "Madam, here are the account books for each store for the past three months. Please review them."

Lan Nongnong casually picked up the top volume, the cover of which had the words "Mingli" written on it. She paused, looked up at Biyu, then lowered her eyes and opened the book.

What caught my eye were densely packed sales records, with items such as where the purchase was made, where the goods were sold, quantity and price, total profit and loss, and the name of the purchaser clearly listed. These records were much more detailed than the accounts of later generations.

Moreover, each transaction was a large one. The entire account book was as thick as a finger, with the store branch marked in bold red ink on the upper edge. Every page contained similar astonishing numbers.

Lan Nongnong did a quick mental calculation and found that the profit of this account book alone was as high as 80,000 taels, and this was just the income for one month.

She paused for a moment, not looking any further, but taking a ledger marked "Jade House." The entries were similar to Mingli's, though the amounts were slightly smaller, they still amounted to a substantial sum.

Then there are farms, restaurants, clothing stores, grain stores...all kinds of businesses, some of which, like Minglifang, have profits to share, while others are all owned by her alone.

In the end, Lan Nongnong no longer turned the pages, but just looked at the cover with the store name written on it one by one, and then told Biyu to put the account book away.

She sat there alone, without any joy of sudden wealth on her face, nor any uneasiness about shouldering the livelihood of everyone. She was so calm as if what she had just read was just an ordinary piece of paper.

In the final analysis, all those properties under her name were originally his assets, just transferred from one hand to the other. The profits from those businesses and shops that were shared with her were also used as protection fees for relying on him.

It is said that it is in her name, and giving her mountains of gold and silver is just like flowing water. You may scoop out some for her to spend, but in the end it all flows to the same place.

Just as there were such assets under her name without her knowledge, she could also be left with nothing without her knowledge.

The matter of both parties getting what they want has nothing to do with her, so why should she take on the burden and make trouble for herself?

She appeared calm, but Biyu was worried. However, her return this time with a rather uneasy expression made her even more cautious and she dared not say anything.

After a long while, Fang heard his wife's instructions: "Tell Mr. Zhao tomorrow that if it's convenient, you can visit his workshop the day after tomorrow."

Seeing that there were no further instructions, Biyu hurriedly lowered her head and responded.